Juan Moreno-Malagon

Michael D. Eckhoff

Valentin Gomez-Torres

Jesus Moreno- Malagon

Luis Ramon-Lara

Rita J. Vera

Timothy J. Williams

Discussing important details over the telephone was discouraged, documents say, in a large Mexican meth organization whose members met at — and allegedly moved drugs through — locations in Springfield, Ozark, Morrisville and beyond.

Arrangements for drug or money exchanges should only be discussed in person, some members later told police.

According to federal court documents, these meetings often occurred at “the farm” or “the stash house,” although the tentacles of the meth-importing organization allegedly snaked throughout southwest Missouri.

The "stash house"

During summer surveillance of this single story house, 4206 W. Mesa Street in Battlefield, federal authorities say they followed and arrested the driver of a vehicle leaving the property. In his car, authorities say they found a half pound of nearly pure methamphetamine.

The driver, not named in documents, told authorities he had been buying meth from the Mexican drug organization since May 2011 – about one pound per week.

The man said he had bought large amounts of meth, records say, from both Noe Moreno-Malagon and Juan Moreno-Malagon.

Records with the Greene County Assessor’s Office show the property belongs — according to current available records — to Sandra Flores of Branson. Flores is not named in any public court document connected to the meth investigation and a telephone number was not available Wednesday.

"The farm"

Also known as “the shop,” 431 Riverdale Road in Ozark, was identified in an arrest affidaivit as the home of Noe Moreno-Malagon.

On Feb. 13, 2012, coded conversations led officers to believe a drug-related meeting would occur between Juan Moreno-Malagon and a man who was not named in the documents.

Surveillance units observed the meeting between the two at the Ozark address and followed the man as he drove from the farm.

Authorities stopped and searched the vehicle and found one pound of methamphetamine behind the driver’s seat, documents say. Laboratory analysis showed the meth was 97.5 percent pure.

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Similar exchanges were documented on March 27 and April 12.

During the investigation period, the property was owned by the Glen Farris Hensley Trust of Ozark, according to the Christian County Assessor’s Office.

Other properties

On Dec. 3, 2012, a federal search was executed at 1331 559th Road in Morrisville. The warrant was granted based, in part, on intercepted wiretap communications of Noe Moreno-Malagon’s telephone, according to the court documents.

During the search, a pound of meth was located, documents say, in a room occupied by Luis A. Ramon-Lara. Authorities also allegedly seized $6,700 in cash, a shotgun and a .25-caliber handgun.

According to the Polk County Assessor’s Office, that property has four owners: Jose and Maria Angel, as well as Martin and Guillermina Zuniga.

Martin Zuniga is one of six Springfield-area men who were killed in a semi versus pickup crash near Jamestown, N.D. on Dec. 26.

His brother, Felipe Zuniga, does not believe Martin was aware of any drug activity on the property where about 10 horses are stabled.

Felipe Zuniga said his brother only visited the stables about once or twice per month.

Felipe Zuniga said a man named Luis was once hired by his brother to take care of the horses on the property but was fired when Martin Zuniga suspected the man of “doing something crooked.”

Other meetings are believed to have occurred at addresses in Monett and Branson West, as well as restaurants, hotels, and parking lots in Springfield.

Alleged members of the meth organization were indicted by a federal grand jury Dec. 14. For about two years, officials say, the organization had been importing and distributing drugs throughout southwest Missouri.